2002 Survey of Maryland Voters

A majority (78%) of Maryland voters support the State's sustainable multi-benefit forest management policies that provide both "environmental and economic returns to the state." ~ Mason-Dixon Polling & Research, January 2002

The Partnership for Sustainable Forestry (PSF) is alliance of business and civic organizations who's primary objective is to promote the wise and sustainable management of the State's rural and urban forest resources through advocacy, education, awareness and collaboration. Key to the success of the Partnership's mission is understanding the public's awareness and support for policies and practices that promote sustainable forestry.

Purpose of Survey

The research objectives for this survey were outlined by the Partnership and focused on:

• Benchmarking voter support for the state's multi-benefit forest management policy.
• Measuring voter attitudes towards specific practices and outcomes resulting from the limited timber harvesting conducted in Maryland's four State Forests.
• Benchmarking voter support for limited timber harvesting in State Forests.

Methodology

This survey was conducted by Mason-Dixon Polling & Research, Inc. from January 15-17, 2002. A total of 625 Maryland registered voters were interviewed statewide by telephone. Those interviewed were selected by a random variation of the last four digits of telephone numbers. A cross-section of telephone exchanges was utilized to ensure an accurate reflection of the demographic profile of the state of Maryland.

The margin for error, according to standards customarily used by statisticians, is no more than ±4 percentage points for the entire sample. This means that there is a 95 percent probability that the "true" figure would fall within that range if all registered voters were interviewed. The margin for error is larger for any subgroup of the sample.

SUMMARY ~ FINDINGS

A substantial majority (78%) of Maryland voters support the state's sustainable multi-benefit forest management policies that provide both "environmental and economic returns to the state."

These multiple benefits, as outlined to the respondents, included environmental returns like "…wildlife, clean water and air, recreation, open space… as well as the economic returns from tourism, timber and other activities."

By a margin of nearly 2-1, Maryland voters support the harvesting of timber in the four State Forests. Statewide, 57% of voters supported the harvesting of timber, compared to 30% who were in opposition, with 12.5% undecided.

Support for the harvesting of timber was strongest in the Eastern Shore/Southern Maryland (67%) and Western Maryland (60%) regions, where the forest products industry is a leading employer.

A majority of voters in each region of the state support the state's policies, with the exception of Montgomery County, where a plurality of voters in support (46.2%) outnumbered those in opposition (41.0%).

Support for the harvesting of timber is linked to the voter's awareness of the state's general forest management policies and specific practices and outcomes resulting from the limited timber harvesting.

This conclusion is supported by the fact that of the 78% of all voters who support the general forest management policies, 71% support the harvesting of timber, with just 21% opposing timber harvests.

 

Selected survey questions and responses
Click here to view complete survey document.

Question: Generally, do you support Maryland's continued use of multi-benefit forest management policies that provide both environmental and economic returns to the state?

SUPPORT 78.4%

OPPOSE 14.4%

DK/REFUSED 7.2%

 

Statement: "Harvesting timber is also a strategy used by foresters to maintain and improve forest health by minimizing the impact of gypsy moths, pine bark beetles and other insects and disease that destroy trees and forests."

Question: Does that make you more likely to support harvesting timber as part of a State Forest management program, less likely to support harvesting timber, or does this have no effect on your position?

MORE LIKELY 64.0%

LESS LIKELY 1.9%

NO EFFECT 30.9%

DK/REFUSED 3.2%

 

Statement: "The forest products industry is the largest employer in Garret and Allegany Counties and the second largest employer on the Eastern Shore and provides a living wage to more than 18,000 state residents."

Question: Does that make you more likely to support harvesting timber as part of a State Forest management program, less likely to support harvesting timber, or does this have no effect on your position

MORE LIKELY 47.0%

LESS LIKELY 4.6%

NO EFFECT 42.2%

DK/REFUSED 6.1%

 

Statement: "Harvesting of timber in Maryland State Forests provides the raw material for wood and paper products that consumers use every day."

Question: Does that make you more likely to support harvesting timber as part of a State Forest management program, less likely to support harvesting timber, or does this have no effect on your position?

MORE LIKELY 25.0%

LESS LIKELY 12.6%

NO EFFECT 49.4%

DK/REFUSED 13.0%

 

Statement: "Currently, Maryland's four State Forests total 137,000 acres. During each of the past five years, an average of 900 acres of this timber has been harvested each year -- less than one percent of the total acres held."

Question: Does the fact that less than one percent of the total forest is harvested in any one year, and always less than the annual forest growth rate make you more likely to support harvesting timber as part of a State Forest management program, less likely to support harvesting timber, or does this have no effect on your position?

MORE LIKELY 52.6%

LESS LIKELY 5.1%

NO EFFECT 37.9%

DK/REFUSED 4.3%

 

Question: Now that you've had a few minutes to think about it and with the information provided, which was based on studies and reports from the state of Maryland, do you support or oppose the harvesting of timber in Maryland State Forests?

SUPPORT 57.3%

OPPOSE 30.2%

DK/REFUSED 12.5%

 

Who is PSF ?

MARYLAND FORESTS ASSOCIATION, INC.
P.O. Box 599
Grantsville, Maryland 21536-0599
Karin E. Miller @ 301/895-5369
mdforests@hereintown.net

UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE
Wye Research & Education Center
P.O. Box 169
Queenstown, Maryland 21658
Bob Tjaden @ 410/827-8056

 

this page created February 4, 2002 by Karin E. Miller